On the right side, there's now Hronek, Bear, and Myers signed for next season (well, Bear's an RFA). I know many expect Myers to be moved after his bonus is paid, but I doubt it, and in any case it can't happen till some time after the NCAA free agents can be signed. Suddenly it might not look to Livingston that there's an obvious spot for him in the top six.
I am sure Livingstone's agent is going to understand the Canucks' situation. It's not like he is going in blind or going to capfriendly and taking the roster at face value.
I am pretty sure the limit is always in effect, so it doesn't "reset", player contracts just come off the books on July 1st and whoever remains signed counts towards the limit.
How do you think the agent will assess the Canucks' right side depth and the opportunity for Livingstone? Will he assume that Myers will be gone next season and that there will be an opportunity on the third pairing? Will he think that the Canucks won't re-sign Bear?
He will assume Myers is one and done at best, potentially moved in the summer. It's not like the insight floated around here is a secret.
Teams can sign ELCs now that don't start until next season. As of March 1st there's the option of ELCs starting this season or next.
That makes more sense than the Canucks giving away a solid Abbotsford defenseman for nothing.
The "insight" around here is mainly wishful thinking: someone will take Myers after his bonus is paid. If Myers stays, that's three veterans on the right side next season, at least for a year. That's not quite the opportunity that would have been available if Hronek hadn't been acquired and if Bear had been traded.
That's a great position to find oneself in. Bear does not have some immovable spot in the roster. Myers is toast and Livingstone probably jumps him on the depth chart the day he signs, regardless of how next season goes. The only truly established player Livingstone has to compete with is a recently-acquire Hronek, and you get to sign close to home? Worst case scenario you see some time in Abbotsford - not getting shipped halfway across the country for half the season. If Livingstone is worried about playing opportunity there are far worse choices than Vancouver at this juncture. Very few teams are going to promise him PP1 the day he signs. Even the Sharks - who are notoriously short on dmen prospects - would still have Karlsson or even the newly-acquired Thrun to contend with. Honestly if I were Livingstone I'd be more concerned with how Troy Stecher was treated here.
I don't think Livingstone is going to see it that way. Maybe he'll sign anyway, but if he believes Myers is going to sit in the press box while he plays on the bottom pair, I'd call his thinking optimistic.
